Westshore Memories - Sue Harper
@westshorememories.bsky.social
Discover the history behind Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, & the Highlands of Vancouver Island BC Canada. There are mysteries, quirky characters, tragedies, weird events, & more.
https://westshorememories.substack.com
https://westshorememories.substack.com
Remarkable stories continue to be told at Westshore Memories. The collection has offered not just a record of events, but a sweeping narrative of people, places, and events shape the community. There is so much more to come! Hope you will join me in 2026 and subscribe. #yyj #westshore #victoriabc
A Look Back, and Forward
At Westshore Memories, remarkable stories continue to be told.
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Remarkable stories continue to be told at Westshore Memories. The collection has offered not just a record of events, but a sweeping narrative of people, places, and events shape the community. There is so much more to come! Hope you will join me in 2026 and subscribe. #yyj #westshore #victoriabc
Christmas in 1921 held a special kind of warmth shaped by a world still healing from the First World War and a flu epidemic. There was a renewed appreciation for peace & togetherness offering hope and solidarity. #yyj #victoriabc #victoria #westshore
Christmas Trees in the District, 1921
Appreciation for peace and togetherness
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Christmas in 1921 held a special kind of warmth shaped by a world still healing from the First World War and a flu epidemic. There was a renewed appreciation for peace & togetherness offering hope and solidarity. #yyj #victoriabc #victoria #westshore
Colwood District A Natural Playground, 1930 - There is no doubt that in the early days the public spent a lot of their free time in Colwood… #yyj #colwood #yyjhistory #Victoria #victoriahistory
Colwood District A Natural Playground, 1930
A Gem of Vancouver Island
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Colwood District A Natural Playground, 1930 - There is no doubt that in the early days the public spent a lot of their free time in Colwood… #yyj #colwood #yyjhistory #Victoria #victoriahistory
Mr Black - A Man Reborn? William Head has been in operation since 1959, as a federal correctional institution The site was also originally a quarantine station. This article appeared in the Daily Colonist in 1961. #westshore #yyj #yyjhistory #prison #metchosin
A Man Reborn- Prisoners Wife Tells a Story, 1961
A happy ending?
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Mr Black - A Man Reborn? William Head has been in operation since 1959, as a federal correctional institution The site was also originally a quarantine station. This article appeared in the Daily Colonist in 1961. #westshore #yyj #yyjhistory #prison #metchosin
Beecher Bay: Early Fishing Industry & "Old Time Barbaric Episode", 1922 #westshore #victoria #BChistory #oldvictoria #yyj open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Beecher Bay: Early Fishing Industry & "Old Time Barbaric Episode", 1922
Salted Salmon and Retribution
open.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Beecher Bay: Early Fishing Industry & "Old Time Barbaric Episode", 1922 #westshore #victoria #BChistory #oldvictoria #yyj open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
The evening started fine. At about 9:30 pm friends of the couple saw Jessie and Harry skate away into the darkness. They would be back before midnight, but as time ticked on there was no sign of them. #yyj #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #langfordlake open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Skating accident at Langford Lake - Two Meet Tragic End, 1936
Jessie Alexander & Harry S. "Hy" Green.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The evening started fine. At about 9:30 pm friends of the couple saw Jessie and Harry skate away into the darkness. They would be back before midnight, but as time ticked on there was no sign of them. #yyj #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #langfordlake open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Weddings were a big community affair drawing family, friends and neighbours together, usually taking place at the family home of the bride. Here are just a few of those early celebrations. #yyj #westshore #history #weddings #victoriaBC #BChistory #BC open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Weddings
Significant social and community events that bound families together
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Weddings were a big community affair drawing family, friends and neighbours together, usually taking place at the family home of the bride. Here are just a few of those early celebrations. #yyj #westshore #history #weddings #victoriaBC #BChistory #BC open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Growth of the Westshore has been on peoples minds for many years. Too fast, too slow, lack of infrastructure, traffic, protection of greenspace, the story really hasn’t changed. This article takes a peak at 27 years ago, and the concerns raised that still resonate today. #westshore #victoria #yyj
The Shape of Things to Come
Have the issues and problems changed?
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Growth of the Westshore has been on peoples minds for many years. Too fast, too slow, lack of infrastructure, traffic, protection of greenspace, the story really hasn’t changed. This article takes a peak at 27 years ago, and the concerns raised that still resonate today. #westshore #victoria #yyj
Pipeline Sabotage, 1911
The critical new water pipeline to the city blown up in Langford
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The headline was sad and solemn. John Dunlop Reid, a well known pioneer of the Metchosin community and a predominant farmer on the island, had passed away at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. #yyj #westshore #metchosin #victoria #victoriabc
John Dunlop Reid 1865-1917
"Noted Sheep Farmer, Summoned by Death"
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The headline was sad and solemn. John Dunlop Reid, a well known pioneer of the Metchosin community and a predominant farmer on the island, had passed away at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. #yyj #westshore #metchosin #victoria #victoriabc
The Athenia, 13,581 tons with 1,104 persons on board was torpedoed 250 miles north West of Ireland on Sunday September 3 1939, the day of the outbreak of World War Two. One of those on board was Winifred Bown of Langford Read her story and first hand account of events. #langford #westshore #victoria
Winifred Bown Escapes Death, 1939
A Langford Passenger on board the Athenia, Torpedoed by a German U-boat.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:33 AM
The Athenia, 13,581 tons with 1,104 persons on board was torpedoed 250 miles north West of Ireland on Sunday September 3 1939, the day of the outbreak of World War Two. One of those on board was Winifred Bown of Langford Read her story and first hand account of events. #langford #westshore #victoria
Many have probably never heard of Corry Road. It’s location in the Highlands has largely been hidden away and forgotten, but it was once a vital link for early pioneer families. This article attempts to discover its hidden past. #highlands #westshore #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc
Hidden History of Corry Road, Highlands
Named after Frederick Charles Corry 1858-1943
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Many have probably never heard of Corry Road. It’s location in the Highlands has largely been hidden away and forgotten, but it was once a vital link for early pioneer families. This article attempts to discover its hidden past. #highlands #westshore #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc
A Hero Dies in Metchosin: William Dupree, 1881 - 1975 “A man, who was twice cited as a hero passed quietly away in Metchosin in 1975.” #yyj #metchosin #westshore #victoriabc #history #hero
A Hero Dies in Metchosin: William Dupree, 1975
He led a long and fascinating life
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
A Hero Dies in Metchosin: William Dupree, 1881 - 1975 “A man, who was twice cited as a hero passed quietly away in Metchosin in 1975.” #yyj #metchosin #westshore #victoriabc #history #hero
In Memory of All Who Have Served #remembrance #november11 #yyj #westshore #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc
In Memory of All Who Have Served
Ensuring their service and hardships they endured are not forgotten
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
In Memory of All Who Have Served #remembrance #november11 #yyj #westshore #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc
A Warning of Conscription - In August 1951, a growing forest fire in the Highlands District threatening homes, and onlookers hampering firefighters put the community and themselves at risk. Enjoy the latest article from Westshore Memories. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #fire #history
Conscription Faces Forest Fire Chasers, 1951
Highland area blaze highlighted a major issue
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A Warning of Conscription - In August 1951, a growing forest fire in the Highlands District threatening homes, and onlookers hampering firefighters put the community and themselves at risk. Enjoy the latest article from Westshore Memories. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #fire #history
The E&N Ghost Train - A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart. Strange noises and lights at night. A chilling tale of the unexplained... #yyj #E&N #railway #ghosts #Halloween #victoriabc #yyjhistory #westshore #oldvictoria
The E&N Ghost Train - A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart
The train groaned to a stop. The old coach stood alongside him. The door slowly opened...
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:35 PM
The E&N Ghost Train - A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart. Strange noises and lights at night. A chilling tale of the unexplained... #yyj #E&N #railway #ghosts #Halloween #victoriabc #yyjhistory #westshore #oldvictoria
GHOST WEEK and the Westshore has many! Phantom footsteps, whispers in empty hallways, ghostly figures, music playing from a non-existent gramophone…… history here is never entirely at rest. #westshore #colwood #langford #viewroyal #metchosin #highlands #hatleycastle #yyj #ghosts #victoria #BC
The Haunting of Hatley Castle
She still walks the halls....
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM
GHOST WEEK and the Westshore has many! Phantom footsteps, whispers in empty hallways, ghostly figures, music playing from a non-existent gramophone…… history here is never entirely at rest. #westshore #colwood #langford #viewroyal #metchosin #highlands #hatleycastle #yyj #ghosts #victoria #BC
Captain Josiah Gosse was the last lighthouse keeper at Fisgard Lighthouse. His story is quite interesting and something I wanted to pass along to readers that support the creation of the many articles (over 275) that now reside at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria #victoriabc #fisgard #bchistory
Josiah & Anna Gosse
Fisgard Lighthouse Keeper (1909-28) among many other things
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Captain Josiah Gosse was the last lighthouse keeper at Fisgard Lighthouse. His story is quite interesting and something I wanted to pass along to readers that support the creation of the many articles (over 275) that now reside at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria #victoriabc #fisgard #bchistory
Following WW2 (1939-45) Civil Defense was high on everyone’s agenda. The hostile post war international atmosphere created by the Cold War and the destructive potential of the atomic bomb witnessed in Japan dramatically raised everyone’s fear levels - even in the Westshore of Vancouver Island. #yyj
Fear at Our Doorstep
The Cold War and Civil Defense Exercise 1955
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Following WW2 (1939-45) Civil Defense was high on everyone’s agenda. The hostile post war international atmosphere created by the Cold War and the destructive potential of the atomic bomb witnessed in Japan dramatically raised everyone’s fear levels - even in the Westshore of Vancouver Island. #yyj
"Like so many of her generation, Mrs. Battersby is still wonderfully alert and vigorous- perhaps the result of a rigorous upbringing and early hardships associated with pioneer days when children could not be coddled." #yyj #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory #metchosin
Mary Edith Dutnall (1864-1949
Metchosin Pioneer
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"Like so many of her generation, Mrs. Battersby is still wonderfully alert and vigorous- perhaps the result of a rigorous upbringing and early hardships associated with pioneer days when children could not be coddled." #yyj #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory #metchosin
Construction of Goldstream to Mill Bay, 1908 - Work crews, using largely manual labor and rudimentary equipment, carved out the road through thick bush, over rocky outcrops, and across numerous streams…. #yyj #goldstream #millbay #victoria #oldvictoria #westshore #yyjhistory
Construction of Goldstream to Mill Bay, 1908
Road building through wild and beautiful territory
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Construction of Goldstream to Mill Bay, 1908 - Work crews, using largely manual labor and rudimentary equipment, carved out the road through thick bush, over rocky outcrops, and across numerous streams…. #yyj #goldstream #millbay #victoria #oldvictoria #westshore #yyjhistory
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #westshore #flood #yyj #yyjhistory #victoriabc #oldvictoria
Flood Damage Maroons Many, 1949
The Western Communities under water.
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #westshore #flood #yyj #yyjhistory #victoriabc #oldvictoria
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #flood #victoriabc #flooddamage open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Flood Damage Maroons Many, 1949
The Western Communities under water.
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #flood #victoriabc #flooddamage open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
The horrific death in 1955 was announced on the front page of the Victoria Daily Times. The first paragraph describing the event was equally horrendous… #yyj #yyjhistory #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Gas & Smoking a Bad Combination, 1955
His body discovered lying in a field
open.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The horrific death in 1955 was announced on the front page of the Victoria Daily Times. The first paragraph describing the event was equally horrendous… #yyj #yyjhistory #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Goldstream Rock & Wonders, 1930 - The picture weaved about the Langford Lake Goldstream area, still a far away wilderness with massive dogwoods, Douglas fir, cedars, and among them a few rustic cabins hiding in 1930. #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #goldstream #BC #vancouverisland #VI
Goldstream Rock & Wonders, 1930
A person might travel hundreds of miles and see nothing finer
open.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Goldstream Rock & Wonders, 1930 - The picture weaved about the Langford Lake Goldstream area, still a far away wilderness with massive dogwoods, Douglas fir, cedars, and among them a few rustic cabins hiding in 1930. #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #goldstream #BC #vancouverisland #VI